We are two weeks away from the 2025 NBA Draft, where the Miami Heat own the No. 20 pick, their only selection of the two-day event. We won’t know until we know, but a lot of options could be presented to the Heat come draft night.
On Tuesday, while you and I both aren’t in the draft room conducting in-person workouts or interviews, we examined a few qualities that the Heat should prioritize when it comes to drafting their player as June 25 arrives. However, a pair of international prospects, who could potentially fill one of their biggest needs, could be a good fit for them heading into next season and beyond.
Ben Saraf and Nolan Traore both fit Heat’s need for a lead guard:
I didn’t list them in any particular order, but one of Miami’s priorities this offseason should be addressing its lack of a lead guard. I love Isaiah Stevens as much as anyone, but he only saw six total minutes last season, and the Heat don’t have any conceivable answer after that.
Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell were both the Heat’s two de facto point guards last season. But while both are improved playmakers, neither is a lead guard.
Saraf and Traore, two of the best point guards in this class, could help it fill that need.
Saraf, who turned 19 in April, averaged 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 45.3 percent shooting and 53.5 percent true shooting in 54 combined games this season.
Saraf’s team, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), is still in the midst of their season, as they are in the semifinal round of the German League playoffs.
If Saraf’s team wins Thursday’s game, they will advance to the championship round against FC Bayern Munich in a best-of-five series that may not conclude until June 26, the second day of the 2025 NBA Draft. This could also affect forward Noa Essengue, who’s also a projected
Traore, who turned 19 in May, averaged 12.2 points and 4.7 assists on 41.0 percent shooting and 51.2 percent true shooting with Saint-Quentin of the LNB Elite (France). Traore’s season is already wrapped up.
The French guard is arguably the best passer of the 2025 NBA Draft class. At 6-foot-3 (barefoot), Troare can make advanced reads out of the pick-and-roll. He did a good job manipulating back-line defenses throughout the season, capable of making skip passes to the corner and fooling tag defenders in the roll. He didn’t shoot the ball well, but he has a quick first step and plays with pace both in the halfcourt and in transition. He’s arguably the closest thing to a sure-fire pure point guard in this class, though his skinny 175-pound frame does draw some concerns.
At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-7.5-inch (unofficial) wingspan, Saraf has more poisitonal size than his counterpart. He’s not as skilled with his playmaking, but he still has great court vision–especially when he’s treading downhill–plus he possesses a slicker handle with more three-level scoring upside. Saraf has shot below 30.0 percent, but he was far more efficient off the catch than as a pull-up jump shooter, where he has serious room to grow.
The Israeli was also more physical defensively than Traore at the point-of-attack and was more disruptive, even though he still has plenty of strides to make both on- and off-the-ball.
Nevertheless, either would be a keen option for a lead guard at No. 20. Neither may make it to 20, but you’d be hard-pressed to find two better options for the Heat at that spot if you’re aiming to find the point guard of the future, even though both will need to clean up their shooting and point-of-attack defense.
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Ben Saraff; 6-6, 200 lbs Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Per Tankathon.com Projected draft range #29-39, NBA Comparison: Roko Leni Ukic
Per ESPN ranking #20 (Miami)
Weaknesses:
Lacks elite athleticism and burst … Not a blow-by threat in isolation and will need to continue refining his change-of-speed game to create separation at higher levels … Outside shooting is the most notable concern at this stage — struggles with consistency on both catch-and-shoot and pull-up threes … Shooting just 22% from deep this season, despite a workable release … Free throw shooting (low 70’s) is passable but doesn’t yet inspire full confidence in long-term shot development … Defensive tools are average — doesn’t have the lateral quickness or footspeed yet to contain explosive guards at the NBA level … Will need to bulk up and improve strength to hold his own on both ends … Occasionally gets caught upright on defense and can lose track of off-ball assignments … Could be more engaged on the glass, given his size, averaging just 2.2 rebounds per game in EuroCup play … Still developing his scoring aggression; can be too pass-first at times.
Nolan Traore: 6-3 175 lbs Point Guard
Per Tankathon.com Projected draft range #8-21, NBA Comparison: Killian Hayes
Per ESPN ranking #18 (Washington)
Weaknesses:
Scoring efficiency and consistency remain major areas for development … Shot just 27% from three and has a 50% true shooting percentage — defenders often go under screens or sag off him in pick-and-roll, daring him to shoot … Jump shot mechanics are not broken but remain inconsistent; tends to rush his release under pressure and doesn’t always square his base … Lacks elite touch at the rim, especially when finishing through traffic … At 185 lbs, lacks physical strength and struggles to absorb contact around the basket — often bumped off his line by stronger defenders … Frame is thin and needs considerable strength development to withstand NBA physicality on both ends … Not yet comfortable as a primary scoring option — prefers to facilitate, which can make him predictable when teams take away passing lanes … Has trouble generating clean looks in isolation or late-clock situations, limiting his current scoring versatility … Prone to decision-making lapses — sometimes tries to force highlight-reel passes in traffic, leading to unforced turnovers … Needs to improve his overall shot diet and learn when to pull back rather than forcing plays … Defensively, while active, he can be overly aggressive gambling for steals, resulting in unnecessary fouls or blown assignments … Tends to bite on fakes or close out too hard, leading to defensive breakdowns … Struggles against elite athletes who can match his speed and counter his creativity with length or physicality … Still developing his ability to handle traps and pressure from long, switch-heavy defenses.